Stephen Davenport and his brother, Stanley, purchased a fourth-floor apartment at 31 West 31st St., pictured at center with red brick exterior, in 1997 for just under $370,000. The brothers were previously living in Midtown East near the United Nations but were prompted to move when construction started on a nearby building. 'I've always been a downtown guy,' says Mr. Davenport. 'Going above 34th Street is like going to the country for me. It's like going upstate.'

Stephen Davenport and his brother, Stanley, purchased a fourth-floor apartment at 31 West 31st St., pictured at center with red brick exterior, in 1997 for just under $370,000. The brothers were previously living in Midtown East near the United Nations but were prompted to move when construction started on a nearby building. 'I've always been a downtown guy,' says Mr. Davenport. 'Going above 34th Street is like going to the country for me. It's like going upstate.'

A private keyed elevator, covered with an antique bank vault door by Mr. Davenport, opens into the apartment. 'Bottom line,' says Mr. Davenport, the brothers were looking to buy a 'two-bedroom, two-bathroom place where two guys could live.' They searched for a place where they felt they could get 'bang for their buck' in terms of square footage, and settled on this approximately 2,500-square-foot loft.

A private keyed elevator, covered with an antique bank vault door by Mr. Davenport, opens into the apartment. 'Bottom line,' says Mr. Davenport, the brothers were looking to buy a 'two-bedroom, two-bathroom place where two guys could live.' They searched for a place where they felt they could get 'bang for their buck' in terms of square footage, and settled on this approximately 2,500-square-foot loft.

The living area of the apartment is pictured. Mr. Davenport sells antiques online, which he collects at flea markets and through searches on the internet. He specializes in commercial antiques from 1880 to 1910 such as soda fountains, stools, chairs and advertising.

The living area of the apartment is pictured. Mr. Davenport sells antiques online, which he collects at flea markets and through searches on the internet. He specializes in commercial antiques from 1880 to 1910 such as soda fountains, stools, chairs and advertising.

Mr. Davenport, 59 years old, used to work with his brother for Urban Archeology, a company specializing in the salvage and reproduction of architectural elements such as lighting fixtures, sconces, fixtures and furniture. He is pictured with his collection, which is also available for sale.

Mr. Davenport, 59 years old, used to work with his brother for Urban Archeology, a company specializing in the salvage and reproduction of architectural elements such as lighting fixtures, sconces, fixtures and furniture. He is pictured with his collection, which is also available for sale.

Here, a dining area covered in antique games. Mr. Davenport renovated the apartment in phases, replacing the floors and wiring, plastering the walls and columns and taking down walls to open up the space, which was previously divided into several rooms.

Here, a dining area covered in antique games. Mr. Davenport renovated the apartment in phases, replacing the floors and wiring, plastering the walls and columns and taking down walls to open up the space, which was previously divided into several rooms.

He also renovated the bathrooms and the kitchen, pictured. Mr. Davenport was able to do much of the work himself because of his background in restoration and reproduction. 'I enjoy working with my hands,' he says. 'It was a pain in the butt living with all the dust, but I lived with it.'

He also renovated the bathrooms and the kitchen, pictured. Mr. Davenport was able to do much of the work himself because of his background in restoration and reproduction. 'I enjoy working with my hands,' he says. 'It was a pain in the butt living with all the dust, but I lived with it.'

A circa 1920s barber's shop chair stands in the middle of the living room. The size of the apartment made living through the phases of renovation bearable, Mr. Davenport says, compared to his previous apartments, which were smaller. 'My standard New York joke is my first place was so small that I had to go out to the hall to change my mind,' he says.'

A circa 1920s barber's shop chair stands in the middle of the living room. The size of the apartment made living through the phases of renovation bearable, Mr. Davenport says, compared to his previous apartments, which were smaller. 'My standard New York joke is my first place was so small that I had to go out to the hall to change my mind,' he says.'

Mr. Davenport's collection is carefully displayed throughout the apartment and includes an original Vaudeville sign. 'It just grew into it,' he said of the collection. 'I'd see a piece and think, that would be great there.' Mr. Davenport restored most of the pieces by hand, including the late 19th-century pool table, pictured.

Mr. Davenport's collection is carefully displayed throughout the apartment and includes an original Vaudeville sign. 'It just grew into it,' he said of the collection. 'I'd see a piece and think, that would be great there.' Mr. Davenport restored most of the pieces by hand, including the late 19th-century pool table, pictured.

The master bedroom is pictured. Mr. Davenport has been in the antique dealing business 'all my life,' he says. His father was an antiques dealer who quit the insurance business in Texas in 1964 to open an antiques shop where Mr. Davenport and his brother worked.

The master bedroom is pictured. Mr. Davenport has been in the antique dealing business 'all my life,' he says. His father was an antiques dealer who quit the insurance business in Texas in 1964 to open an antiques shop where Mr. Davenport and his brother worked.

A corner of the master bedroom is shown with velvet curtain covering closet space. Mr. Davenport's brother now lives in Denver and is a 'real craftsman,' he says, with an interest antique pool tables, 'anything to do with billiards' and advertising, particularly from gas stations.

A corner of the master bedroom is shown with velvet curtain covering closet space. Mr. Davenport's brother now lives in Denver and is a 'real craftsman,' he says, with an interest antique pool tables, 'anything to do with billiards' and advertising, particularly from gas stations.

Here, a collection of antique mugs. 'I've kind of filled [the apartment] now,' he says. 'It would take something spectacular or unusual for me to bring it here. I see stuff that's kind of interesting, kind of cute, but I look at it and think, where would I put it? If it's not something great, then I'm not going to go for it.'

Here, a collection of antique mugs. 'I've kind of filled [the apartment] now,' he says. 'It would take something spectacular or unusual for me to bring it here. I see stuff that's kind of interesting, kind of cute, but I look at it and think, where would I put it? If it's not something great, then I'm not going to go for it.'

Here, a penny arcade 'lung test" on display in the apartment. People were invited to blow into the mouthpiece, which would cause water to rise in the jar above to demonstrate lung capacity. Mr. Davenport says these and larger machines are quite rare as sanitary concerns over the use of the mouthpiece lead to many of them being thrown away.

Here, a penny arcade 'lung test" on display in the apartment. People were invited to blow into the mouthpiece, which would cause water to rise in the jar above to demonstrate lung capacity. Mr. Davenport says these and larger machines are quite rare as sanitary concerns over the use of the mouthpiece lead to many of them being thrown away.

Mr. Davenport points out an old clipping about a three-story-tall soda fountain. The property was briefly listed with Corcoran in 2010 for $1.895 million. It was listed at the end of March with Dan Bamberger of Citi Habitats for $2.35 million.

Mr. Davenport points out an old clipping about a three-story-tall soda fountain. The property was briefly listed with Corcoran in 2010 for $1.895 million. It was listed at the end of March with Dan Bamberger of Citi Habitats for $2.35 million.